US Patent 7160101 Apparatus for heating a nozzle with radiant energy

A system and method provide an injection molding apparatus utilizing radiation energy as a heat source. The injection molding apparatus may includes at least a partially transparent nozzle or may include a thermally conductive nozzle having a nozzle body and a nozzle channel that receives a fluid material at an inlet. The fluid material has a pressure induced flow causing the fluid material to flow along an axis of the nozzle channel from the inlet to an outlet. A radiant energy heating device heats the nozzle channel to maintain the fluid material in a fluid state.